Page 33 of The Duke’s Return (Dukes of the Compass Rose #2)

G enevieve wandered about her bed chamber the morning after the charity soiree while waiting for her breakfast tray to be brought up.

It didn’t sit well with her, how last night had ended.

She should have said something. So should have Julian. But since she couldn’t control what he did, at least she could try to manage this herself. As she went back and forth about her options, Genevieve dressed and ate before finally gathering her courage.

Around she went into the hall toward his bed chamber. There, she paused to knock.

And then she waited.

Hearing no footsteps after a second, Genevieve frowned and knocked again. He must have been asleep, she decided, since the hour was still somewhat early.

“Julian? Your Grace?” she called quietly with her next knock, hoping there was no one else about who might hear her. How embarrassing it would be to have someone catch her standing outside her husband’s door like this. Even now, her cheeks heated up as she raised her fist to knock a fourth time.

How long can I knock without being certain he is even here?

It doesn’t seem likely he would ignore me in this way.

Or would he? After last night, I’m not particularly certain.

The man is particularly confounding. It was so much easier when our only communications were by way of his solicitor and banker.

The silence hung heavy on her shoulders as she grudgingly accepted the man was not going to appear at the door. Why she had expected some sort of acknowledgement now, she didn’t particularly understand.

“You deserted me last night,” she muttered at the door in a grimace. “Of course you would do the same this morning. We didn’t exactly make plans for today, I suppose.”

Unless someone shows for tea. Oh, I pray they won’t. Everyone should be visiting Mr. Wilson after his wonderful soiree. But everyone did promise to see us soon…

Pondering this, Genevieve thought she might try again to find the duke. Social visits never lasted particularly long as to not exhaust the host. A grace, she thought, except it meant people could visit several people in a single day. She had best prepare, then, in case anyone came to call.

It didn’t take long to find Mrs. Waverly. The two of them talked about preparing a few items now in case of potential guests who might come calling.

“Oh, and do you know where the duke might be?” she asked as casually as she could muster when they had everything sorted.

The housekeeper blinked. “I’m afraid not. I believe he left for a ride early this morning half past six, Your Grace. Perhaps he is still out in the stables? I can send someone if you like.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Genevieve nodded. “If you could, that would be lovely.”

“What message shall I send him?”

“Only that I hope to have his company should anyone visit us today.”

Mrs. Waverly raised an eyebrow. “If? You’re the duchess and are finally setting up the knocker. Everyone is going to call on you, I expect. Perhaps I’ll have the biscuit recipe doubled just to be certain.”

A hesitant smile slipped over Genevieve’s lips. “Very well. Oh, and can you please have the messenger to the duke return to me to confirm the message?”

“Certainly, Your Grace. Is there anything else?”

She gave a short shake of her head. “No, Mrs. Waverly, but thank you. I’m going to see the parlor now.”

Off to the parlor she went to ensure it was up to standards for hosting guests. Genevieve hummed quietly to herself as she shifted the curtains open a little wider for more sunlight. A few adjustments made it appear much more comfortable to her satisfaction.

“Your Grace?”

One of the footmen, Lyle, stood in the doorway, a cautious expression on his face. She nodded for him to enter.

After he gave a respectful bow, he said, “Mrs. Waverly sent me to find His Grace in the stables, but he wasn’t there. Is there anything more I can do?”

She frowned. “He wasn’t? Do you know where else he might be?”

“His horse is still gone, I believe. The grooms said he took off nearly five hours ago.”

A sharp feeling pierced her chest. That was longer than she had expected. “Are you certain? That cannot be right. Did they say if he was alone when he left this morning?”

Lyle hesitated. “I don’t believe they said anything of the kind. But I did note we had all four stable boys and two grooms within the stables when I was there.”

Resisting the urge to pinch her nose, Genevieve inhaled deeply.

“Very well. I need one of the grooms to take off at once to ensure there hasn’t been an accident.

Now, send them both. Search the grounds, the woods, as well as the village to be certain.

If they don’t find him within three hours’ time, they need to return so I can send out a larger search party. ”

The young man nodded hastily and murmured his reassurance before taking off. He moved quickly down the hall, fading away.

I don’t think anything is wrong. Julian does enjoy his morning rides… but it is better to be safe than to lose him for good. I don’t think I could explain that very well to the ton.

Having her husband vanish didn’t stop Genevieve from attending her duties. She checked on the boiling water for tea in the kitchen before returning to her bed chamber for a more proper gown since it sounded from Mrs. Waverly how likely she would be to have guests.

And the housekeeper was too correct.

Three carriages rolled up on the hour, filling her parlor at once. Genevieve enacted her hostess duties as she poured tea, asked polite questions, and graciously accepted compliments. It was difficult work as she had to remember every little action she made.

Most of the village appeared within the next couple of hours.

Her staff was just as worn out as she was when the last ones finally took their leave, everyone needing a break.

Genevieve stopped by the kitchens to thank her staff and to give some of the rest of the day off––the rest could have it tomorrow so long as her husband eventually reappeared.

Mrs. Waverly and Lyle were in the doorway when she made it up the steps to the hall.

It made her pause before she resumed walking.

Her heart pounded in her chest with concern.

Unable to read their expressions, she had to assume they were not terribly concerned as of yet.

Otherwise surely someone would be fretting.

Surely they would care a little. So he must be found. He must be.

“Well?” Genevieve asked anxiously.

“The duke has returned,” Mrs. Waverly reassured her with a nod.

Shoulders relaxing, Genevieve let out a long sigh. “Thank goodness. Whatever happened? Surely he didn’t get himself lost. Did his horse throw a shoe?”

Although Lyle glanced at the housekeeper, Mrs. Waverly didn’t flinch.

She offered a slight curve of the lips albeit not a complete smile.

“All is well. Your head groom met His Grace on his return to the house not an hour ago. Everyone has since returned here. His Grace can be found in his bed chambers now.”

“Oh. Good. That is… good.” Genevieve let out a heavy breath. She nodded to herself. Though she’d told herself not to worry, it seemed her heart had been more concerned than she expected.

The satisfaction of knowing all was as it should be with her husband was helpful, though Genevieve had no plans of going to see him. The two servants standing before her looked at her expectantly, however, and for a moment she doubted herself.

I thought I was confident once, but when it comes to Julian, now I don’t know anything. He is alive and that’s what matters. Why, I don’t wish to think on it. But now that I am certain, well, I suppose he will see me again if he so desires. I cannot keep chasing him.

Pulling herself together, she nodded. “That will be all. Thank you both so much for informing me.”

And then they finally took their leave.

She sighed. Shaking her head, Genevieve strolled down the hall before returning to the parlor. She straightened up the room and then thought of a few other matters that required her attention. There was always one project or another.

There was the parlor, the south hall’s fading wallpaper, the new draft in the music room, and the attic stairs. Genevieve saw to those matters and assigned work to the servants before checking on the next week’s menu.

She managed to sort out her business even with thoughts of Julian on her mind.

All she wished to do was remain upset him.

But then came the memory of his eyes on her last night.

The way he gazed at her like she meant something more to him…

It was enough to send a shiver down her spine.

It was always so temporary, so short, that sometimes she worried it wasn’t even real.

Why do I keep dwelling on this? It’s not as though he shall ever look at me in such a manner again.

Then all of her duties were handled before the afternoon was over. Needing a distraction, Genevieve wrote a letter to Phoebe. It went by more quickly than she might have expected. Resolving on a walk amongst the gardens, she crossed the house to get there for her stroll.

Along the way, she found Julian walking in her direction.

Genevieve parted her lips on instinct to speak with him, but then recalled his behavior the previous evening. Instead, she pressed her lips together. There was nothing kind she could say. She had no need to say anything, then.

Forcing herself to keep walking, she inhaled slowly through her nostrils. Then Julian glanced up. He looked well albeit with circles under his eyes that grew darker the closer they drew.

Did he feel the weighted tension in the air, she wondered, and would he even care if he did?

Genevieve gave him a curt nod since they had met gazes in the hall, but intended nothing more than that.

Another conversation could take place at another time.

If he wished to disappear from their estate for half a day without a word, then so be it.

She didn’t even know where he had been and she was determined not to care.

Or at least not to let him know if she cared.

Shifting her gaze beyond him, she tried to imagine what was on his mind as he looked at her. She thought he too would look away. It wasn’t as though he could have come looking for her after all this time.

And yet those pretty blue eyes of his lingered on her just as they met. She took another step––

His hand reached out to brush against her elbow. “Genevieve.”

At once she stumbled and came to a stagger stop. Her heart and feet hardly knew how to move. Inhaling, she asked him, “Yes?”

The man gave nothing away even when he tilted his head to gaze at her. She thought she noted curiosity in the lines of his features, but she couldn’t be certain. Then she forced herself to look away so she wouldn’t miss what he said next.

“Next Wednesday is Lord Winburn’s ball. The invitation came in yesterday, I understand it. Will you attend?”

The calmness of his voice left her confused for a reason she couldn’t particularly place. Hesitating, she tried to remember their calendar. “I’m not certain. I had no plans for the affair.”

“We should attend.”

“It’s in the next county over and they’re not hosting guests through the night. Returning home would be dangerous,” she pointed out to him.

He gave a short nod. “There is a level of danger, but not enough to warrant our lack of attendance. Our driver knows the roads well, as do the horses. Besides, we must keep up our appearances. It’s important we were once again seen together.”

“Again? We have already so much.” Genevieve bit her tongue from going on. Drained from a morning of entertaining, she sighed. There was no energy for fighting now. “Very well. I’ll send Lord Winburn notice we will be in attendance. Is that satisfactory?”

“It’s not about satisfying me, but the rest of England,” he reminded her. “Everyone needs to believe the story we’re telling.”

Something about those words put a discomforting lump in her throat. Genevieve took a side step away to put distance between them. “Yes,” she agreed with a tight smile. “I know exactly the story you’re telling, Julian. It just isn’t the right one.”

He looked ready to respond. But Genevieve wasn’t. So she offered another curt nod and swept down the hall before Julian could say another word.